Preview Roundups
March 15, 2015
Chicago at Oklahoma City 1:00 PM ET
Russell Westbrook continues to do it all, complete with lobbying for a rebound to complete another triple-double. The All-Star guard has his sights on another solid contest when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. Westbrook was a rebound short of a triple-double when he departed Friday’s 113-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and his gesturing led to a rebound being awarded so he could finish with 29 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
Houston at L.A. Clippers 3:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers are staying in the middle of the playoff race in the Western Conference despite being without one of their best players. The Clippers will try to take another step forward in the standings when they host the Houston Rockets on Sunday, and they could have the services of All-Star forward Blake Griffin in the meeting. Griffin has been out since having surgery to remove a staph infection from his right elbow last month.
Denver at New Orleans 6:00 PM ET
Two weeks ago a meeting with the Denver Nuggets would have been an easy test on the road to a potential postseason spot. Instead, the New Orleans Pelicans will host a dangerous Nuggets squad on Sunday that is finally beginning to come together under interim coach Melvin Hunt. Denver improved to 5-2 under Hunt with a win over NBA-best Golden State on Friday and has opened up the offense to make better use of the team’s length and speed.
Cleveland at Orlando 6:00 PM ET
Kyrie Irving set an NBA season high for points in his last outing but Cleveland probably won’t need another 57-point performance from the star guard when it visits the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Irving set a franchise record as the Cavaliers posted a 128-125 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. “That kid is special,” forward LeBron James told reporters. “We all know it, we all see it, and for him to go out and put up a performance like he did was incredible.”
Minnesota at San Antonio 7:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs have been off since a crushing loss to one of the best teams in the league on Thursday. The Spurs will try to take out their frustrations when they return to the court to face the Western Conference-worst Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. San Antonio had a chance to put away the Cleveland Cavaliers but star forward Kawhi Leonard missed two free throws in the closing seconds, giving Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers enough room to escape.
Portland at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers do most of their damage on the home floor and will receive some opportunities to change that, beginning with Sunday’s contest at the Toronto Raptors. The contest is the first of a five-game road trip for the Trail Blazers, who are just 15-14 in away games as they attempt to catch the second-place Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference. Toronto is coming off a 102-92 win over Miami on Friday that was just its second victory in 11 games.
New York at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
If the Phoenix Suns plan on staying in the race for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, then wins over the teams below them in the standings are a must. The Suns will try to take advantage of the worst team in the league when they host the New York Knicks on Sunday. Phoenix is three games behind the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder for the eighth spot and has dropped three of its last four games.
Atlanta at L.A. Lakers 9:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers may be having a second straight down season but they are still tough for the Atlanta Hawks to defeat. Atlanta will try to end an eight-game road losing streak against the Lakers when the teams meet on Sunday in Los Angeles. The drought isn’t just in Los Angeles as the Lakers posted a 114-109 victory over the Hawks on Nov. 8 when the teams met in Atlanta.